New Jersey’s Sandy Hook peninsula lies within sight of New York City. Here, researcher Nicole Davi of William Paterson University and Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory is studying trees dating as far back as the early 1800s. They have survived modern development, but rising seas and more powerful storms, both fueled by climate change, could eventually spell their end. (All photos: Kevin Krajick/Earth Institute) READ THE FULL SCIENTIFIC STORY
A 65-acre patch of old-growth hollies and red cedars has survived on Sandy Hook, long protected by the peninsula’s status as a military base. It has now been converted to parkland. In a low-lying spot, tree-ring researcher Nicole Davi regards the hulks of trees probably killed by saltwater intrusion in recent years.
Davi and lab technician Mike DaSilva of William Paterson University scout for living specimens to sample.
Davi forces a specialized augur into a red cedar; the bit is hollow, allowing her to core a cross section of growth rings without harming the tree.
The researchers prepare to shed their backpacks in a stand of holly trees.
Lamont-Doherty tree-ring technician Troy Nixon cores an old holly.
A raw core. Polished and put under a microscope, it will reveal past growth patterns, possibly including storms that predate the modern meteorological record.
DaSilva saws out a full cross section from an already downed tree.
Cross sections like this one, from a red cedar, provide an easily visible index for analyzing cores.
Davi admires the remains of an ancient forest inhabitant.
Saltwater intrusion from storms and ongoing sea level rise appears to be killing off waterfront trees. Across the bay is the highly developed New Jersey mainland shore.
Hundreds of feet inland, a tire washed in during a storm or extreme high tide is a sign of continuing seawater encroachment.
Davi discusses trees, tree rings and climate with a visiting class from William Paterson University.
The peninsula is full of reminders of its military past. Just a few hundred feet from the old-growth forest, a decommissioned Nike anti-aircraft missile sits near a collapsing building.
Much of the rest of the military infrastructure is slowly decaying. Many current and former military bases, protected from civilian development, serve as de facto nature preserves.
Near the tip of the peninsula, a couple of trees hang on amid marshland. Beyond: the Verrazano Narrows bridge, and the New York skyline. The city, like the Sandy Hook forest, faces the twin threats of sea level rise and future storms.
AGU25, the premier Earth and space science conference, takes place December 15-19, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year’s theme—Where Science Connects Us—puts in focus how science depends on connection, from the lab to the field to the ballot box. Once again, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia Climate School scientists, experts, students, and educators are playing an active role, sharing our research and helping shape the future of our planet. #AGU25 Learn More
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